Posted: 4/6/2010 9:21:45 PM EDT
|
What field are you in? Where did you go to school?
I finally decided I'm going to follow my passion and go back to school for a MS in Geophysics. I would like to get some knowledge and experiences for those currently in the field. |
|
Quoted:
Environmental remediation, went to UC Chico, working in Reno, NV. Ask away. What's the job market look like these days? I have heard petroleum exploration is in high demand still. I have also heard that many positions in research require phds. Saint Louis University has a good program that I'm looking into. Thanks. |
|
Hard sciences will always be in demand, you just have to be willing to be flexible in what you want to do. When I got into the market in 2002, mining and oil were dead, and enviro was booming. Right now, mining is at a high, petro is fair to middlin, and enviro is down. My advice on education is get what you can afford. I've got a BS in Geology, and its served me just fine so far. I know people who make more who have MS and PhD, I know people who have MS and PhD who are outta work... Best advice I have is to don't put yourself in any more debt than you can deal with to get a job. Get an entry level job with the BS, pay off your bills, save up a bit, and try to get them to send you back to school if you are worth it. If you aren't, use that money you've saved up to spend a couple years getting your MS if you want, and start the cycle over again.
I swore I'd never do enviro when I was in college, but that is where the work was when I got out, and I found that while I may not enjoy enviro work, I do enjoy having Big Oil pay my bills, and the people I work with are cool. For me, a good work environment (no pun intended) is more important than overall money, so I may not be the best guy to talk to about getting the most outta a pay check. ;) Research is generally going to require PhD, but those jobs are scarce, and largely dependent on the company having disposable income at the time. There's always regulatory work if you can't find private industry with a PhD, but it will never pay what private does. Good luck! |
|
Quoted: What field are you in? Where did you go to school? I finally decided I'm going to follow my passion and go back to school for a MS in Geophysics. I would like to get some knowledge and experiences for those currently in the field. Good for you! God Bless you! Stick it out and make it happen. B.A. Marketing, going (at 45, no less) M.A. Earth Sciences (Teaching) degree from UNC. Geology is a passion! |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
What field are you in? Where did you go to school? I finally decided I'm going to follow my passion and go back to school for a MS in Geophysics. I would like to get some knowledge and experiences for those currently in the field. Good for you! God Bless you! Stick it out and make it happen. B.A. Marketing, going (at 45, no less) M.A. Earth Sciences (Teaching) degree from UNC. Geology is a passion! Yes, I like rocks. 
Actually, I'm leaning more towards the geophysics side as my main interest lies more in the destructive power of nature. Like the previous poster suggested, I think I'm going to check into the BS program first. |
|
BS to work
MS to consult PHD to teach Yes there is some crossover depending upon where you want to end up. Mining is fair now, oil is stable enviro/hydro picks up the rest. Mining and oil are typically boom&bust jobs. Forest Service is short of geos right now...... SRM |
|
Quoted:
BS to work MS to consult PHD to teach Yes there is some crossover depending upon where you want to end up. Mining is fair now, oil is stable enviro/hydro picks up the rest. Mining and oil are typically boom&bust jobs. Forest Service is short of geos right now...... SRM Thanks. I'm looking at the route that's going to incur the least debt. I actually have 14 months left on my GI Bill and that's after I have completed one graduate program already. At 31 I think this is the perfect time to make a career change. |
I pulled into a parking spot at the hardware store one day and noticed the vehicle next to me had a "Reunite Gondwanaland" bumper sticker. An older guy came out and started getting in the vehicle, I asked him, "You're a geologist, aren't you?" He smiled and said yes. 
|
|
B.S. Geology
M.S. Hydrogeology Spent 10 years traveling the country doing environmental remediaton jobs & landfill construction. Watched a lot of holes drilled & earth moved. Helped design and supervised construction of groundwater treatment systems. Wanted to get out of haz-waste and phase into construction so I got a job as an estimator/project manager for a caisson drilling company. Took experience from both careers, and now manage a construction company that focuses on drinking and wastewater plant construction & retrofits. The geology gives me and edge when bidding dirt-work and dewatering, but it's just the boots on the ground time that makes me my money. Get the paper under your belt to get some doors to open & then figure out what you REALLY like to do & what you are GOOD at. Nothing wrong with getting a technical B.S. and then make yourself very marketable with an MBA...money and people ALWAYS need to be managed. |
|
I'm a geologist, BS in geology from a state school, working in the environmental field. Yes, it is just about totally wrecked as mentioned above.
What you need to realize is this: you have to find a place where there is an economic need for your specialty. I lived in Texas for a while doing mapping. That was great - actual real geology, probably 80% field time, a lot of fun. Development over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone created an economic need for geologists, and all was well. On the east coast, there's not as great a need for geologists. Unless you specialize in mining, you're probably going to be stuck in the environmental field out this way. The commercial real estate market generally drives this demand, and it's just wrecked because of all these shenanigans they're pulling. Also, you're beholden to all these ... generally liberal ... bankers. If I had a chance to do it over, I'd specialize in either petroleum or seismology, at least masters level. Geophysics is going to set you up for a job at a school most likely, so you might trend your course load to help out with that if you go that way. Academia does not translate well into real world jobs, but can be dependable nonetheless. ETA: Also, look into getting your PG as soon as possible. It opens a lot of doors. |